by E R Landron
“You do not! I cannot give the answers you seek. Like everything, there are good people, and there are bad people. Moreover, people you think are good, and they are not and vice versa. He told me that something is going on. Also, by the looks of it... it might not end well.”, he looks angry, but the concern in his voice is what catches my attention.
“But...”
“You know already that even your coworkers you cannot trust. Just be careful my dear. Diane will be safe in here.”
“I don't like this. I don't like this one bit.”, I stand and point at him.
“You are just like him.”
“Who? The homeless man?”, I frown.
“Your father. The fire you have inside, he had it too.”
My upper body drops a little as if I was just punched in the stomach. And a deep breath answered the priest and his comment. I ugh… don’t… have anything…
“I am sorry for your loss. He was truly a good man. A good-hearted man. “
I raise my head. I have a knot in my throat that I’m fighting. I bet my eyes shine. I breathe with my mouth open trying not to tear up.
“I will go and get him. Tell them to call me if anything concerning Diane comes up.”, my voice was so low I could hardly hear myself.
“Will do my dear. God bless you.”
The priest did a cross in the air. I responded with a very forced a smile and a squint as I left the screened area.
Day - Mieke’s Apartment, 7:09 AM
I arrived at the apartment. I took wrong turns twice. My mind was wondering. The priest caught me off guard with the dad card. I slammed the door, turned to the hall, and pointed to the cuckoo clock and yelled to it: "I said I’ll deal with you later! ". I went to my room. Grabbed a big military bag and pushed the bed out of the way. There was a little lever beneath. Twist and pull. A hole in the floor lied with multiple guns, revolvers, and bullets. Bulletproof vests, cloth, and other materials to clean weapons. I put in the bag a shotgun a mini machine gun, some batons, magazines, and shells. Kevlar armor just in case. I am going to shoot him. Closed the hidden compartment and saw the room. It's still daytime. I ran to the punching bag and began hitting it hard. Kick it, punch it, headbutt it, then grab it by the upper part and hit it with my knees like Muay Thai. I felt the sweat dripping from my nose. Fatigue took over. For how long I was hitting it? I started to regulate my breathing to lower my cardiac time. I admired all the plaques, trophies and other awards I used to take for granted. Shooting, boxing, Tae-Kwon-Do, Jiu-Jitsu, military, FBI. I decided a while back to keep one of each thing, and the others would just throw it out to the garbage. A picture of me and a young Diane caught my attention. I remember that big trout I fished and Diane had a fake smile that was actually very convincing. Dad took like four pictures since Diane kept arguing she didn't want to be next to a soon to be cadaver of cruelty. That day she said she was becoming vegetarian. Dad flipped out for a minute or two and demanded at least to take a good picture for the album. It is one of the few photos we have together. After that, I concentrated on sports and on police stuff. I became obsessed. Diane kept with her art stuff and photographs. At first, I thought it was a waste of time... probably I still do, but she's getting paid, and she's happy. Phone rings. I want to get back to my thoughts. The ring persists. I swipe to answer. It's the Captain from the police station, they want me to help out with some open cases, see if I can help figure out some outlines to what to do next on them. I look to the ceiling and stomp trying not to make any sound in frustration and finally agreeing. I grab the bag. It’s still daylight. I still got time to kill. I don’t understand why are there so many morons in the force. Wait, what’s that smell? I sniff close to my armpits. It’s me! I'm taking a quick bath first.
HANNAH Night - Alley, 7:45 PM
I haven’t been this excited since probably chocolate ice cream. All my brothers and sisters are here. Their jackets look super, man. I like seeing them laughing. Weird seeing torches on the city though. Who cares, it’s my day. Today I’ll be a complete Ahket. I have my hawk all fired up. It matches with the torches light.
“Silence!”, screams Tiger.
I love how everybody listens to him. I hope one day I can get that respect. Now it’s just too silent for my taste. I’m getting nervous. One breathe. Two breath. Three. I need to concentrate on something else. Humid floor. Trash gagging aroma doesn’t work. I prefer this more than a dysfunctional family. Still, we are like street cats.
“Tonight is initiation! Not for another member! But tonight we welcome to the family, in this case, a little sister!”, screams Tiger again.
Now I can’t see with Tiger in front of me. Still, this wall of hunk is not a bad view. His red head it’s so pretty. I love a man in uniform, and his biker jacket with camo pants does the trick. The grenades on his belt not so much. I hope besides the ceremony he notices me. I heard he likes more or less what I’m wearing. I put these cargo pants and a black tank top that is covered in a purple fishnet type of long sleeve shirt. I mean. Whom am I kidding, I’m trying too much, man?
“Hannah, Hannah! Hannah! Hannah!”, the crowd chants.
I can’t concentrate. Tiger puts his index finger in his lips trying to quiet down the crowd again, and my left foot started to shake. My lips are hurting from all the pressure I’ve given them.
“She’s been with us for a while. And tonight she will prove that our decision… of her becoming one of us was definitely in sync with us becoming part of her. Again we are family. We’ve been scattered …abandoned …beat up by society… by our flesh and blood, our neighbors, friends, and enemies… left to rot… to decay in the filthy streets we make and call nowadays our home. Without any more of long talks and jibber jabbers… our sister!”
His massive finger follows me. The guys cheer. My names is on everybody’s mouth. My cheeks are warm. Thank God I’m tanner than these guys. My fang escapes my lips. Get serious Hannah! Steps echo closer. Tiger faces me. His stomach is ripped. I drive all the way from his chest, neck into his eyes. For sure I’m blushing now. His hand lays on my shoulder. He’s gonna get burned. My heart is going to escape my chest. It’s hard to swallow.
“You already know how to do it. Don't be scared, let the animal in you come out. Remember to breathe.”
“Okay.”
Okay? I just said Okay? I bet I looked like a bubble head. What a moron. Calm yourself, man. I feel the air slowly leaving my lungs. I nod to him. I hope he feels something. Anything. I see my destination up front. A wooden box with two torches. Like street performer. My first step towards the box it’s awkward. I slipped but gained my composure quickly. At least I’m a bit taller now. I do a Kung Fu tiger claw. The fishnets don’t look good at all. I do have pretty nails. At least today. It’s go time. My head nods without my permission. My eyes are shut, and my hand flies to the sky. The roar of the crowd is warming. I am ready! I can’t tell anybody from each other. Just Delilah with her glove and handle. Badass weapon in my opinion. Talk Hannah. Talk.
“You are my family! I will make you proud!”.
The crowd cheers again waving their fists, flashing their tiger tattoos and hands like tiger claws. That didn’t sound awkward at all. One more breath. This time deep. My hands run from my stomach to my chest all the way to air. I know they are falling slowly, but I don’t feel them anymore. They are running their own course. My breath feels heavier. My fingers embrace, and my stomach feels like something is sucking my intestines from the inside. Dizziness. Nausea. I’m gonna puke. I feel the sweat on my head already. Everybody is watching me silently. I’m not gonna make it. “Her hair is rising,” someone says followed by a slap. My neck, arms, and belly feel humid as well. Tiger is passing back and forth. He’s probably more nervous than me.
“Feel it. Feel it, Hannah.”, he says softly.
Tiger has his fist in front of him as he looks like he is gripping hard to something. My fists clench hard. I use all my force towards my hands… I immediately drop
to the floor. My strength leaves my body. “Her veins started popping from her skin.” followed a by a shush. My hands tremble, and everything is fading. Everything is blurry. I can’t tell what someone just said. Pain is rushing through my back to the back of my head. I… my…
TIGER
She vomits on the floor. Somebody in the crowd says something like she is not going to make it, while some shushes come out quickly. I make a calm gesture. She’s fading away if I’m not mistaken. Now the true feline will come out. Hannah gives out a shriek that quickly goes off. Her eyes open and began to change to a yellowish color. She scratches the wooden box.
“She’s doing it.”, someone says loudly.
My extended palm quiets everybody again. Hannah's eyes began to change shape. There you are kitty cat. Her hands began to become more fury. Her teeth pointier. I’m starting to miss her already. She looked cute with her stockings. Her fiery orange, brown and yellowish Mohawk. She’s a newborn, and she has transformed in the first try. I cringe to another scream from Hannah. Her body is trembling, but she stays put.
“Breathe, don't stop breathing little one.”, I tell her.
Hannah's ear begins getting pointier, and her size begins to shrink a bit. As the crowd is starting to smile, in front of her Hannah is turning into a big cat. Smaller than she was but bigger than an average cat. Her face is rounding up. Her nose getting smaller. The fur is growing quicker all over her body. Her finger nails get pointier. A full cat is sitting in the wooden box now. Brown, yellow and orange and also she has few white lines. Her fur is in shades of her hair color and tanned skin.
She’s in the trance now. She won’t remember anything for a while. Her cloth is all over the box. I snap my finger into her cat eyes. No flinch. A huge silence takes over the alley only some swinging chains are heard. I turn to the crowd.
“The transformation is complete. She can't move until her whole system finishes the ritual. For now, my brothers and sisters. We feast.” I said with a huge smile.
The crowd throws a loud cheer and some feline sounds as well. Now everybody is lifting their torches higher. Their fangs, fur in their forearms, elbows, shins, sideburns between other places warms my heart. I have been the leader for a couple of years now. These so-called rejects look like family now. They start patting each other on the back, and others start hugging each other. She’s still in the trance. For being a newborn, she took not that much to complete the transformation. The crowd is making way, while I drive through. I see Delilah happy. She brought Hannah from her dark past. People keep patting my back and throwing their fangs in my face. I hope one day I can get better resources for my clan. That way I can finish my plan from taking them out of the streets. I want to take them out literary out from the streets now. Stop being the alley cats from the streets as they call us. Something flies through the air. A bottle drives to my hand. I smile and wink at the crowd. There is something weird in the air. Something doesn’t smell right. There is a clapping sound. My adrenaline starts to rise. The hair on my head rises. The crowd makes a side. Five ninja costume men are standing. One of them keeps clapping as everyone else begins to get quiet. I slowly bring the bottle down. A stare down becomes awkward between the ninjas and the crowd. The clapping comes to a halt. I heard of ninja men. These, in particular, are banned in cities with too many humans. These guys must be the Laim group the city spoke of.
“What are you doing here?”, I say in a menacing voice.
“Taro! Congratulations. I see family keeps expanding.”, Laim says with a smile.
“I heard outsiders were in town. Thought it was a joke until the church went down. Who paid you to come to the city? The council will...”
“Taro, Taro. No need to call the council. I'm just visiting an uncle. He's very sick. There's no wrong with that.”
“You don't have any family. I don't think you know the meaning of that word.”
“Ow, Taro... That hurts right here.”
Laim in a very mocking way points at his chest. He slowly begins to smile. The other four don’t say anything. The others have their face covered. The only difference between them all is one that is a bit taller with bushy eyebrows.
“What do you want?”
“An orb. The orb. A friend of yours told us you guys have it.”
“A friend? So you burned the church? So you got your information from the crazy. If it so... you're crazier than he is!”
Huge laughter broke from the members of Tiger's crowd.
“Taro? How about you…”
“We have shit!”, I snap.
Laim's smile disappeared. He’ll fight us. I can see it. My hand gestures for everyone to get on fighting stance. Hannah as a cat, keeps on a trans like state. I won’t be able to protect her. Too many people to protect. Maybe they’ll dismiss her.
“Just point us the way, and we go… Orb?”, Laim says.
“I know how you handle your business. People get ready, we protect our family!”
Everybody gets into attack position. The chains are swinging. Fists in the air. Fangs out to intimidate.
“Orb... Taro.”
As Laim is finishing the sentence three of the ninjas jump into the crowd with super high speeds. The crowd begins to attack, but the ninjas are too fast. The ninjas take out their sword and quickly slice and dice through some of the people from the crowd. Limbs, blood starts to rain all over. I see one at a distance. I leap and land close to him. I grab the ninja with super speed and throws him off slamming him to a wall. I bet on a broken bone. Some members of the crowd are being slashed, stabbed and killed. Shit! I can’t be everywhere. They are very fast. Something is behind me. I see a sword. I dodge as it barely touches my skin. He’s so fast; I’ll have a hard time fighting him. I throw a chain from the floor and leap into another giving his back. He turns as I’m about to land. My hand becomes a tiger paw. My huge paw scratches him twice. He dies instantly, and his cloth starts to spread ash from were skin was visible before. Laim and the big brow stand still and… he disappeared?! I lose control for a moment. My guys are fighting. Where is he? I feel my chest opening up. The pain dashes as I barely flinch. The sword leaves my chest followed by blood. As I cover the wound, he attacks again. Too fast. I’m blocking with one hand. Attacking with the other. I feel as he mocks me below his mask. I feel as his feet are above my neck momentarily and… and… I failed. Han… I…
HANNAH
The blackness is disappearing. Everything sounds faded man. I don’t know if they are cheering or is it a commotion. I can’t blink. Something really is going on, and I can’t move. Tiger grabs someone and throws him to a wall with force. I think something broke. I can’t move. Why can’t I move? Another ninja slashes his sword on Tiger’s chest. Oh no! Oh no! My family. My family! Tiger defends himself. The ninja jumps over Tiger and… jumps from his neck towards another ninja without his face mask. Tiger blinks slowly. His eyes meet with mine. A blood tear in his eyes. Tiger's movement begins to slow down as many falling bodies go to the floor. Some people turn to ash, some turn to decay bodies. Some too old people and another group don't change their physical state. Tiger's hand reaches in my direction… as his head rolls off. The bushy eyebrowed ninja puts his bloody sword in front of the one without a mask, who passes his tongue through it and smiles.
The other two ninjas keep fighting the almost dead crowd. Laim walks away from the bushy eyebrow ninja and continues towards me. I can’t move. I wanna run. I need to run! Laim gets his sword out slowly and points it close enough to my eyes. I can’t blink. The steel is blocking making my whole vision blurry.
“Hopeless romantic that Tiger. You are pretty young. If you see the orb... bring it to me. If not, your death would be most painful, and so will be your human family... that you probably abandoned recently. The streets talk, and we know everything.”
Laim puts back his sword on the saya. One last crowd member is pleading for his life, and one of the ninjas impales him. Laim gets
close to the bushy eyebrow ninja. The sounds echo through the alley.
“Either I lost my touch or times have changed. The neko will be our eyes on this block. Time to get some city eyes too.”
The four ninjas leave. A whole floor of bodies is left, some of the blood starts to dry, other starts to clog, and some of the bodies start to become ash, other bodies start decaying. Tiger’s body begins to turn to ash as well, and a gust of wind enters blowing it to my face. This is a massacre. This is genocide. A tear begins to come out of my eyes. I can’t wipe it. I can’t move at all.
MIEKE Night - Church, 7:55PM
I get to the church with haste. What a mess of work. The detectives running them were doing a poor job, and the Captain insisted me to have a look at it. Between frowns, upset and embarrassed faces, I managed to organize all of them. A few jokes about my unorganized desk came by, but still, I kept all my cases under wrap. In the end, they thanked me for the help, but the truth is my head was elsewhere.
The church is all burned up. Ash, burned wood, melted religious icons were all over it. Some candles are on the outside of the church like a solidarization to the building, with flowers and ribbons too. I holster my gun and a flashlight. My finger twitches a bit wanting to be on the trigger. Rule one of holding a gun, yet if I see him I want him to eat a bullet. All the church looks ruined. Diane could have been under that. It looks worse than what both D and the priest told me at the hospital. My feet are doing loud noises under the cracked floor. One in front of the other. Slowly. My feet come into a halt. There you are, son of a bitch. He is looking to the melted cross a top of the main hall. The only thing that can be recognized is the burned feet of whom is supposed to be Jesus. I aim with both the gun and flashlight.
“The world is coming to an end.”, he says.
